Tigers split doubleheader

The Tigers split a doubleheader with No. 5 South Carolina on Saturday, falling 2-0 in the opener before taking a 4-0 decision in the nightcap.

Brett Graves tossed a complete game for Missouri in the opener, but took the loss after allowing an unearned run in the third and solo homer in the fifth.

The Tigers managed just five hits in the contest.

Missouri jumped on top early in the nightcap, going up 1-0 on an RBI double from Dylan Kelly in the bottom of the first. The Tigers tacked on two more runs in the second inning on a run-scoring single from Kendall Keaton and a score from Josh Lester on a wild pitch.

Missouri tacked on an insurance run in the seventh on a fielder’s choice groundout.

Keaton Steele picked up the win by tossing six innings of scoreless relief, allowing three hits and striking out seven. Alec Rash had started the game and threw 2 1/3 innings of two-hit ball. Jake Walsh pitched a perfect two-thirds of an inning before Steele entered in the fourth.

Missouri (6-9, 1-2 Southeastern Conference) hosts Arkansas State on Tuesday. South Carolina is now 17-3 overall and 2-1 in the SEC.